It has been a while. I've finally started my group sessions for coping with IBS. From what I can tell, Gastroenterologists recommend this type of group therapy for people who are greatly affected daily by IBS symptoms.

I am not the type to share much in this type of setting, but we've only had two sessions, so perhaps I will open up more. It's been a roller coaster every month since the last time I posted, but such is life. I've finally come to realize that I'm IBS-A (Alternating between C and D), which is kind of aggravating because my GI tract can't even decide which way it doesn't want to function normally.

I have received a lot of information from group, and will use this thread to post what I think may be helpful to others starting tomorrow or the next day. I am sure many of you have read similar material, but I thought I was well-read on IBS, and here I am receiving information I didn't find anywhere else... so perhaps you'll find one or two things helpful to you.

Anyways, I hope that you are all doing well... more posts to come from me soon. Take care!

~ Jade

Diagnosed with IBS in 2006

IBS symptoms since 1998

Chronic Back Injury since 2005

“Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do.” ~Emanuel Swedenborg

Hi Jade,Thanks for the update! It is so good to hear you're getting help for your IBS struggles. It's just an added bonus that you will be sharing some of the education you receive with us. Best of luck to you... and please keep us posted.Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

For starters, we have been asked to keep a diary of our symptoms. This includes rating each aspect of IBS during our days, from 0 (no symptoms) - 4 (incapacitating severity). Though we've just started, it's easy to see patterns once you start this, so if you want to see if there is any certain pattern or which days may always seem worse, I suggest you try this.

So far the information I have received is probably very common knowledge to anyone who has been diagnosed. Naturally, it has been discussed in great length that stress has not caused this illness, but that it does affect us after our diagnosis... IBS is basically caused by the breakdown of communication between the CNS (Central Nervous System - messages to and from our brain, essentially) to our ENS (Enteric Nervous System - the nerves that sends/receives messages from the CNS in our intestine).

I think the main goal of this group is to learn how to control our reactions and thoughts better, in hopes of having less flare-ups. It's not that we cause the attacks, but I think we can all agree that certain stressful situations can cause us to worry to the point of an attack.

For our homework this week, we were to make a contract-like agreement that outlines our hopes and goals, and how we will work to achieve them.

I don't know what others might want to know, so if you have something you'd specifically like to learn about, just ask - chances are I have the info here, but I don't want to bore anyone with info they've read a million times over. :)

~ Jade

Diagnosed with IBS in 2006

IBS symptoms since 1998

Chronic Back Injury since 2005

“Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do.” ~Emanuel Swedenborg